Birthright Education

Tying Tuition to Income!

The current model of day school funding where tuition is charged for each and every student is clearly broken. Tuitions have been rising at 2-3 times the level of inflation for years squeezing out the middle class and beyond and leading to declining enrolments and even school closures.
While subsidies are available they are generally only provided to those earning under $150,000 a year. While most Canadian families can only dream of earning...

Loans and Grants

I write these words from Israel on the eve of Yom Hazikaron, the saddest day of the year as we remember the 23,447 casualties of war and terrorism; immediately followed by Yom Ha’atzmaut, perhaps the happiest day of the year. This roller coaster of emotions is reflective of Jewish history with its tragedies and moments of triumph. It is in Israel where tomorrow’s Jewish history is being made today. It is only here that Judaism is...

The Syrian Refugees and The Giving Pledge

As Canada begins welcoming 25,000 Syrian refugees, it behooves us to think of the flourishing Jewish community that once existed in Syria. The Jewish world owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Judy Feld Carr who, at great personal risk, rescued over 3,000 Syrian Jews. They were remnants of a once great and glorious community dating back thousands of years, most of whom had fled in the first half of the twentieth century.
Among...

The Tuition Crisis: Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Most Canadians in turning 71 get a monetary windfall as they begin to cash in the savings that have accumulated in their RRSP. Having had this money accumulate tax-free for forty or fifty years, and despite knowing that at some point tax would have to paid, people are nonetheless dismayed and even surprised at their large tax bills - in most cases 50% of the RRSP monies received. No wonder an entire industry has developed on how to best...

The 5% Tuition Solution

With the busy Yom Tov season, I would not be surprised if many missed what is potentially the most significant Jewish news story of the year. I am referring to the announcement that four Jewish day schools in New Jersey will be capping tuition fees at a maximum of 18% of income, regardless of the number of children in the family. This new grant money, which is in addition to any tuition breaks already in place for lower income...